Package forming member



July 30, 1963 G. A. MANlzzA PACKAGE FORMING MEMBER Filed July 7, 19579 United States Patent O 3,099,475 PACKAGE FOG MEMBER Guelfo A. Manizza, Waterford, Conn., assigner to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed July '7, 1959, Ser. No. 825,497 Claims. (Cl. 29d-87.2)

This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in merchandizing devices, and more particularly seeks to provide a novel package forming member which may be engaged with individual articles of merchandise, such as cans, bottles, and the like, to combine a plurality of such articles into a single readily carried package from which the individual articles are readily separable.

This invention constitutes an improvement over the device disclosed in the patent to Meller, No. 2,331,038, issued October 5, l1943.

In the past, elongated members formed of paper products have been devised for the purpose of connecting together a plurality of similar articles of merchandise. While these devices have desirable operating features, when they are assembled and ready for use, they occupy a relatively large amount of space, and therefore it is not economically feasible to attempt to store or ship these devices in their assembled form. On the other hand, if these devices are shipped and stored in their flat blank state, then they must be assembled by the ultimate user immediately prior to the utilization thereof, thereby requinng the ultimate user to have on hand equipment for assembling, the devices in accordance with his particular use requirements. Such a machine not only occupies valuable space in the ultimate consumers plant, but also, due to its rate of operation, will only operate a small amount of time. It will be readily apparent that all of these factors are undesirable.

The present invention seeks to provide a novel package forming member which is of a configuration that may readily engage articles of merchandise to be combined into a package and interlocked therewith, and at the same time, is so proportioned that it may be folded into a ilat state for storage and shipment, `from which state it may be readily assembled requiring the use of no machinery whatsoever.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel member for engagement with items of merchandise to form a package, with the member being both in the `form of a connector and a handle for such item of merchandise, the proportions of the member being such that it may be formed from a single sheet with the edges of the sheet secured together and folded initially into a flat state for shipment, after which it may be opened manually with a minimum of effort for engagement with the items of merchandise to be packaged.

A further object of the invention is to provide a package forming member for items of merchandise, such as cans, bottles and the like, the package forming member When in its operative position being generally channel-shaped in cross-section, and initially being in the :form of a flattened tube, whereby the package forming member may be readily stored and shipped While occupying a minimum of space.

A still further object of the invention is to providea package forming member -for interlocking engagement over the ends of cans, bottles and the like, to form a merchandizing package including a plurality of such items of merchandise, the package forming member being initially formed from a flat elongated blank which has the edges thereof secured together to form a flattened tube for shipment and storage, the package forming member being prescored so that it may be readily squeezed in ones hand to ice conform to the necessary channel shape for engagement over the ends of items of merchandise to be packaged.

With the above, and other objects in lView that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing:

In the drawing:

FIGURE l is a perspective -view showing three cans combined into a single merchandizing package utilizing the package forming member.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a blank from- Which the package forming member is formed.

FIGURE 3 is a rotated end view of the blank of FIG- URE 2 in its initially assembled -form ready :for shipment or storage.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary bottom perspective view of the package forming member ready vfor engagement with a can.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken through the upper part of the merchandizing package and shows the specific relationship between a can and the package forming member.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary end perspective view of a modified form of package forming member.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG- URES 1 through 5, inclusive, of the drawings, and is generally referred to by the numeral 5. The package 'forming member 5 is generally channel-shaped in cross-section, and includes an inner trough, Igenerally referred to by the numeral 6, and an outer trough, generally referred to by the numeral 7. The two troughs 6i and 7 are both of a channel cross-section and are internested.

The inner trough 6 includes a floor 8 and a pair of side Walls 9. The outer trough 7 includes a base 10' and a pair of outer Walls 11, the outer Walls l11 being integrally connected to the side Walls 9 remote yfrom the floor 8 `and the base |10.

It is to be noted that the side walls 9 are connected to the ,oor 8 at spaced intervals along 4fold lines, as at 12. The side Walls 9 are separated `from the floor 8 intermediate the connections 12 by generally channel-shaped cuts 13 which provide projecting tabs 14 at longitudinally spaced intervals on the floor l8 and merchandise receiving openings =15 at longitudinally spaced intervals in the side walls 9 adjacent their intersections with the lloor 8.

In the 'formation of the blank .for the package forming member 5, the blank being referred to by the numeral 116, the side walls 9 are connected to the outer walls i11 by lfold lines 17. The base 10 is integrally connected to one of the side walls 11 lalong a `fold line 18. A flap 19 is integrally connected to the other of the outer Walls 11 along a fold line 20. In addition to these fold lines, a fold line 21 extends longitudinally along the center of the oor 8 and a fold line 22 extends longitudinally along the center of the base 10.

In the ini-tial formation of the package forming member 5, the blank 16 is folded :along the fold lines Z1 and 22 to -form a flattened tube, as is best illustrated in FIG- URE 3. In this state, the llap -19 overlaps` the base 10 and is secured thereto. The package forming member 5 is now ready for storage or shipment.

When the package yforming member 5 i-s yabout to be combined into a package with items of merchandise, such las the cans 23 of FIGURE 1, the flattened package forming member 5 is gripped in ones hand with ones thumb disposed along the fold line 21 and ones fingers engaging the flattened package forming member 5 along the fold line 22 and a pressure is exerted, with the result that the package forming member 5 will open from its llattened state of FIGURE 3 to its configuration of FIG- URE 4. It may now be placed over the tops of a plurality 3 of cans, such :as the cans 23, 4and will automatically interlock therewith.

It is to be noted that the 'base 10i is of la greater width than the Ifloor 8, and initially, the side walls 9 slope outwardly, whereas the outer Walls 111 are disposed lgenerally normal to the base 10. When the package forming member 5 is forced down over the upper edges of the cans 23, those portions of the side walls 9 engaging the cans 23 are torced Ioutwardly substantially into face-to-face engagement wth the outer walls `11, as is best shown in FIGURE 5. At the same time, the ridges yor end seams 24 of the cans 23 pass into respective ones of the notches or openings and become interlocked behind the edges of the side walls '9, las is best shown in FIGURE 5. The three cans 23 are now locked into `a single merchandizing package by the package forming member 5.

It is to be understood that since the side walls 9 follow about the contour of the individual can 23 immediately below the `seam 24 thereof, the individual can 23 is positively interlocked with the package forming member 5. IFurther, when the complete merchandizing package is picked up, it is held by gripping the package forming member 5 so las to increase the clamping action of the package forming member 5 on the individual cans 2,3. On the Iother hand, since the package forming member 5 is formed of a tearable paper product, the individual can 23 may be removed from the package forming member 5 when it is to be utilized.

A modified form of package forming member is illustrated in FIGURE 6. The package lforming member of FIGURE 6 is generally referred to by the numeral 25, and is of a similar construction to the package forming member `5. T'he package forming member 25 includes an inner trough 26 and 1an outer trough 27, each of which is generally channel-shaped in cross-section and which `are internested. The inner trough 26 includes a Ifloor 28 and a pair of side Walls 29. The outer trough 27 includes a base 30 and a pair of 'outer walls 31.

The package yforming member '25l differs cfr-om the package forming member S only in that the outer walls 31 are both integrally connected to the base 30, Whereas a flap 39' is `formed along an edge lof one of the side walls 29 and is connected to the floor 28 to complete the tubular form of the package forming member 25.

Although the lapped joint between the side edges cf the blank from which the package forming member may be :formed bas been illustrated only either along the base or the floor thereof, it is to be understood that the lapped joint may be positioned at `other points, although the two positions illustrated in FIGURES 4 Iand 6 Iappear to be the most feasible.

Although a generally rectangular blank 16 has been illustrated in FIGURE 2, it is to be understood that the blank-s will be cut from an elongated stripK which may be of vlany length. rPhe length of the individual blank will depend upon the number of items of merchandise which are to be combined in a single package. The blank 16 and the package forming member 5 formed therefrom are of a length to receive three cans. The length of the package forming member 5, las well as the package forming member 25', may be any unit length desired, and will normally vary from two to six units. If desired, the package forming member may be shipped in fa continuous length in coil form, although for ease of handling, it will normally be pre-cut and shipped to the ultimate user in the lengths required.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that novel and advantageous provision has been made for carrying out the desired end. However, attention is again directed to d the fact that variations may be made in the example structure disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A package forming member for engagement with items such las cans, bottles and the like -liaving an outward-ly directed peripheral rib at yone end thereof, said package forming member being provided in the form o-f an elongated flattened tube baving `opposed panels, each of said panels having three told lines `extending longitudinally thereof and dividing the panels into four elongated portions, first portions of said panels being directly joined and being floor defining portions, second portions of said panels being directly connected to said floor defining portions and being side wall defining portions, said floor defining portions and said side wall defining portions being foldable to define an inner trough, third portions of said panels being directly connected to said side wall defining portions `and being outer wall defining prortions, and tourth portions of said panels being directly connected to each other and being base defining panels, lsaid base defining panels `and said louter wall defining panels being foldable to define an outer trough receiving said inner trough in nested relation, the fold lines connecting the second panels to the first panels being interrupted at spaced intervals by elongated generally C- shaped cut lines extending into the second panels, whereby in erected form elongated notches are provided in the side walls of the inner trough for receiving peripheral ribs of items.

2. 'Ilhe package forming member of claim 1 wherein said notches are straight whereby `one end only of an item may be received within the inner trough.

3. The package Vforming member or" claim l wherein the material removed to define each notch remains integral with said floor defining portions.

4. A package forming member -for engagement with one end only of containers, such las cans, Iof the type having fan outwardly directed rib at one end thereof, said package torming member being of a one-piece construction with the longitudinal edges permanently secured together :and comprising inner land outer nested troughs of flexible material, said outer trough including `a base and upstanding outer walls, said inner trough being seated in said youter trough Iand including a floor and upstanding side Walls, said side walls only being provided with transversely aligned Aelongated notches at spaced intervals adjacent the bottom edges thereof tor receiving transversely spaced peripheral rib portions of containers, said floor being loosely engaged `only with said base, and said inner trough being joined to said `outer trough only by connections between the upper edges of said side fwalls and said outer walls whereby the package forming member can be stored in a flat state.

5. The package forming member Iof claim 4wherein said member is provided with central ffold lines along said Ifloor land said base .about which said member is folded when in the flattened tube state.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,908,841 Hawks May 16, 19'33 2,3 03,264 Flick Nov` 24, 1942 2,331,038 Meller Oct. 5, 1943 2,854,183 Srofe Sept. 30, 1958 2,896,780 Struble July 28, 1959 3,005,654 Stone Oct. y'24, A'1961 

4. A PACKAGE FORMING MEMBER FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH ONE END ONLY OF CONTAINERS, SUCH AS CANS, OF THE TYPE HAVING AN OUTWARDLY DIRECTED RIB AT ONE END THEREOF, SAID PACKAGE FORMING MEMBER BEING OF A ONE-PIECE CONSTRUCTION WITH THE LONGITUDINAL EDGES PERMANENTLY SECURED TOGETHER AND COMPRISING INNER AND OUTER NESTED TROUGHS OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL, AND OUTER TROUGH INCLUDING A BASE AND UPSTANDING OUTER WALLS, SAID INNER TROUGH BEING SEATED IN SAID OUTER TROUGH AND INCLUDING A FLOOR AND UPSTANDING SIDE WALLS, SAID SIDE WALLS ONLY BEING PROVIDED WITH TRANSVERSELY ALIGNED ELONGATED NOTCHES AT SPACED INTERVALS ADJACENT THE BOTTOM EDGES THEREOF FOR RECEIVING TRANSVERSELY SPACED PERIPHERAL RIB PORTIONS OF CONTAINERS, SAID FLOOR BEING LOOSELY ENGAGED ONLY WITH SAID BASE, AND SAID INNER TROUGH BEING JOINED TO SAID OUTER TROUGH ONLY BY CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE UPPER EDGES OF SAID SIDE WALLS AND SAID OUTER WALLS WHEREBY THE PACKAGE FORMING MEMBER CAN BE STORED IN A FLAT STATE. 